(FILE PHOTO) Secretary to the Cabinet Karlo Nograles. INQUIRER.net/LYN RILLON
MANILA, Philippines — Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Friday that at least 2.4 million jobs “must be created this year” as he cited that expected additional workers in 2022 will make the country’s employment rate “challenging.”
In an online press conference, Nograles noted that demand for jobs will increase because the first batch of K to 12 graduates will finish their college degrees next year.
“Because of the pandemic, our workers have to adapt to the changing needs of employment (sic) and the industries that they belong to. One way they can help is to provide avenues for training, education, and technologies as well as many other components,” Nograles said.
“As NEDA [National Economic and Development Authority] said, while we expect gradual recovery, beginning late 2020 and then in 2021, we are also cognizant that there will be a substantial increase in the labor force in 2022, as the first batch of K-12 graduates will be graduating from college and are expected to join the labor force.”
“There will be additional workers next year. That will make our employment rate challenging, so about 2.4 to 2.8 million jobs must be created this year,” Nograles added.
Nograles was included in the signing of the Joint Memorandum Circular of the National Employment Recovery Strategy (NERS) Task Force. The NERS is a medium-term plan that seeks to create employment opportunities for Filipinos as the labor market continues to adjust due to the pandemic and adoption of the Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies.
The K to 12 program, which adds two years of Senior High School, began in 2013. The first batch of graduates finished SHS in March 2018.
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READ: DepEd will review K-to-12 curriculum – Briones
In a 2018 survey, JobStreet Philippines’ found that only 24 percent of employers in the country were willing to hire K to 12 graduates, as college degree holders were still prioritized.